Mumbai clinched Maharashtrian derby by 5-0

It’s staggering how much of a difference can home support make to a football team. The same Mumbai City FC, which was nowhere near even competing in their first match in Kolkata, slammed 5 goals in their next outing against FC Pune City at their home venue i.e. the D. Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai. Pune’s ordinary defence was, of course, a help for the hosts, but, their striking ability and their tendency to keep going for goals even after taking a big lead in the first half was also an indication of the manner in which they want to play their game.

Ranbeer Kapoor, the owner of the team, who had his head down most of the time during that game against Atletico De Kolkata on the opening day of the league, was a proud man last evening. Now, his team has got into the top half of the table and their goal differential, which was minus 3 coming into this game, has also improved significantly and they have done it without their marquee man Nicolas Anelka who is supposed to be going to make real difference to this Indian Super League when he comes.

For Pune though, it’s an alarming situation now. Their defence was of school level against Mumbai, literally so. They let the opposition dictate terms. There was just no planning, no man marking, nothing in their game. Their last game was also only a draw. So, they, basically, have nothing in that win column in the table. They, indeed, have not played at their home thus far, but, with this kind of defence, they are going to struggle for 3 points even at home.

Pune’s first game against Delhi Dynamos was a 0-0 draw. It was played at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

It’s staggering how much of a difference can home support make to a football team. The same Mumbai City FC, which was nowhere near even competing in their first match in Kolkata, slammed 5 goals in their next outing against FC Pune City at their home venue i.e. the D. Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai. Pune’s ordinary defence was, of course, a help for the hosts, but, their striking ability and their tendency to keep going for goals even after taking a big lead in the first half was also an indication of the manner in which they want to play their game.

Ranbeer Kapoor, the owner of the team, who had his head down most of the time during that game against Atletico De Kolkata on the opening day of the league, was a proud man last evening. Now, his team has got into the top half of the table and their goal differential, which was minus 3 coming into this game, has also improved significantly and they have done it without their marquee man Nicolas Anelka who is supposed to be going to make real difference to this Indian Super League when he comes.

For Pune though, it’s an alarming situation now. Their defence was of school level against Mumbai, literally so. They let the opposition dictate terms. There was just no planning, no man marking, nothing in their game. Their last game was also only a draw. So, they, basically, have nothing in that win column in the table. They, indeed, have not played at their home thus far, but, with this kind of defence, they are going to struggle for 3 points even at home.

Pune’s first game against Delhi Dynamos was a 0-0 draw. It was played at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.